Muslim Religion

The
literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one's will i.e. losing
oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one's own pleasure for the
pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed
through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy
Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from
interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the
earlier scriptures.

The prime message of Islam is the Unity of God, that the Creator of the
world is One and He alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace and
blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant. The follower of this belief
is thus a Muslim - a Muslim's other beliefs are: God's angels, previously
revealed Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace be on
them both), the Day of Judgement and indeed the Decree of God. A Muslim has
five main duties to perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and
Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing the
prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and
performing the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islam believes that each person is born pure. The Holy Quran tells us that
God has given human beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God's
pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam believes that God created
mankind in His image and by imbuing the attributes of God on a human level
mankind can attain His nearness. Islam's main message is to worship God and
to treat all God's creation with kindness and compassion. Rights of parents
in old age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women's rights were
safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total darkness
about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass every imaginable situation
and its rules and principles are truly universal and have stood the test of
time.

In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the bounties of nature that are
lawful. On the contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active life
with the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy, courage patience
and politeness. In short, Islam has a perfect and complete code for the
guidance of individuals and communities alike. As the entire message of
Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the
traditions and practices of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it
is immutable in the face of change in time and place. It may appear rigid to
the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly an adaptable way of life
regardless of human changes.

Islam teaches that the path to spiritual development is open to all. Any
individual who searches the One Creator can seek nearness to God through
sincere and earnest worship; it is central to establishing a relationship
with the Almighty. This positive message for humanity fills hearts with hope
and courage.

At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the
majority in more than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest
growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in
the far corner of the earth.